Systems/methods of auxiliary devices functioning in cooperation with a smartphone

Abstract

Embodiments of systems/methods are disclosed wherein an auxiliary device, that is attached to a person, is configured to function in cooperation with a smartphone that is used by the person. According to some embodiments, over a first interval of time, the auxiliary device comprises a first auxiliary device that is configured to perform first monitoring or measurements and is further configured to wirelessly transmit information to the smartphone comprising results of said first monitoring or measurements. Further, over a second interval of time, the auxiliary device comprises a second auxiliary device, that is physically distinct from the first auxiliary device, is configured to perform second monitoring or measurements and is further configured to wirelessly transmit information to the smartphone comprising results of said second monitoring or measurements. According to some embodiments, the second auxiliary device comprises at least some functionally that is similar to at least some functionality of the first auxiliary device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising an auxiliary device that is attached to a person and is configured to function in cooperation with a smartphone that is used by the person;
 wherein over a first interval of time, the auxiliary device comprises a first auxiliary device that is configured to perform first monitoring or measurements and is further configured to wirelessly transmit information to the smartphone comprising results of said first monitoring or measurements; 
 wherein over a second interval of time, the auxiliary device comprises a second auxiliary device, that is physically distinct from the first auxiliary device, that is configured to perform second monitoring or measurements and is further configured to wirelessly transmit information to the smartphone comprising results of said second monitoring or measurements; and 
 wherein the auxiliary device is further configured to cause the smartphone to augment/append the information that is wirelessly transmitted thereto with additional data, in accordance with a predetermined arrangement, and to cause said information and said additional data to appear in a predetermined order. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second interval of time does not overlap with the first interval of time; and 
 wherein the first auxiliary device and/or the second auxiliary device is/are configured to use unlicensed frequencies to wirelessly transmit/receive information to/from the smartphone. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second auxiliary device comprises at least some functionally that is similar to at least some functionality of the first auxiliary device. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first auxiliary device comprises a first technology and wherein the second auxiliary device comprises a second technology; and 
 wherein the first technology and/or the second technology comprise/comprises a technology other than a Bluetooth technology. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first auxiliary device comprises a first technology and wherein the second auxiliary device comprises a second technology; and 
 wherein the first technology and/or the second technology comprise/comprises a Bluetooth technology. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said predetermined order comprises providing at least some of said additional data at an end of said information, beyond the end of said information, prior to the end of said information, at a beginning of said information, prior to the beginning of said information, beyond the beginning of said information, beyond the beginning of said information and prior to the end of said information and/or over a plurality of different non-contiguous locations of said information. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information that is wirelessly transmitted to the smartphone by the auxiliary device comprises a component that is associated uniquely with the auxiliary device. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device is further configured to wirelessly transmit the information to the smartphone responsive to having received a signal from the smartphone and responsive to an identity of the smartphone having been recognized by the auxiliary device. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device is further configured to perform operations comprising:
 establishing a wireless link with the smartphone and then transmitting data to the smartphone responsive to receiving a signal from the smartphone and responsive to an identity of the smartphone being recognized by the auxiliary device; 
 wherein the wireless link that is established is based on an unlicensed band of frequencies and/or a Bluetooth technology. 
 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising the smartphone;
 wherein the smartphone is configured to wirelessly communicate with the first auxiliary device over the first interval of time using a first technology; and is further configured to wirelessly communicate with the second auxiliary device, that is physically distinct from the first auxiliary device, over the second interval of time using a second technology; and 
 wherein the first technology and/or the second technology comprises/comprise a technology other than a Bluetooth technology. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of using a plurality of auxiliary devices that are configured to function in cooperation with a smartphone; the method comprising:
 performing first monitoring or measurements by a first auxiliary device that is attached to a person over a first interval of time; 
 using a first technology and wirelessly conveying by the first auxiliary device information to the smartphone comprising results of the first monitoring or measurements; 
 performing second monitoring or measurements by a second auxiliary device that is attached to the person over a second interval of time; 
 using a second technology and wirelessly conveying by the second auxiliary device information to the smartphone comprising results of the second monitoring or measurements; and 
 causing the smartphone to augment/append the information that is conveyed thereto with additional data, in accordance with a predetermined arrangement; and causing said information and said additional data to appear in a predetermined order; 
 wherein the second auxiliary device is physically distinct from the first auxiliary device; and 
 wherein said wirelessly conveying comprises wirelessly transmitting and/or wirelessly receiving using unlicensed frequencies. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second interval of time does not overlap with the first interval of time. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second auxiliary device comprises at least some functionally that is similar to at least some functionality of the first auxiliary device. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first technology and/or the second technology comprises/comprise a technology other than a Bluetooth technology. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first technology and/or the second technology comprises/comprise a Bluetooth technology. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second interval of time at least partially overlaps with the first interval of time. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first technology and/or the second technology comprises/comprise a Bluetooth technology. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first technology and/or the second technology comprises/comprise a technology other than a Bluetooth technology. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein said predetermined order comprises providing at least some of said additional data at an end of said information, beyond the end of said information, prior to the end of said information, at a beginning of said information, prior to the beginning of said information, beyond the beginning of said information, beyond the beginning of said information and prior to the end of said information and/or over a plurality of different non-contiguous locations of said information. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the information that is conveyed to the smartphone by the first auxiliary device comprises a component that is associated uniquely with the first auxiliary device; and 
 wherein the information that is conveyed to the smartphone by the second auxiliary device comprises a component that is associated uniquely with the second auxiliary device. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the information that is conveyed to the smartphone by the first auxiliary device is responsive to having received a signal at the first auxiliary device from the smartphone and is further responsive to an identity of the smartphone having been recognized by the first auxiliary device; and 
 wherein the information that is conveyed to the smartphone by the second auxiliary device is responsive to having received a signal at the second auxiliary device from the smartphone and is further responsive to an identity of the smartphone having been recognized by the second auxiliary device.